November 24 – Obeying Out Of Love

“but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” -  John 2:5-6 (NASB)

 

This season can be distracting, stressful, confusing, and difficult. The message from the world out there does not always deliver what is true. God has revealed Himself in His Word which we call the Bible. In it He has revealed how we should live. 'First John presents two external tests that demonstrate salvation: doctrinal and moral. The doctrinal test consists of confessing a proper view of Christ and of sin (1:1–4; 1:5–2:2), while the moral test consists of obedience and love (1: 7–11).'1  All this comes from the Lord because He loves us. We are reminded in today's verse that when we follow the standards God has shown us in His Word His love for us is made complete. If we are willing to let God's love work in our hearts it will make obedience a part of our lives. So when we learn of something in the Bible that God wants us to do or a principle He wants us to follow, let's remember that He wants it because He loves us, not because He is a dictator. His promise to us is to make us complete through our faith in Him.

 

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[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 1 Jn 2:3–6.

October 10 – Being Absent Is Being Present

 “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV)

Our promises found in our passage include one much the same as the words Paul wrote to the Philippian church toward the end of his ministry. This letter to the church at Corinth however, was not written while he was in prison. In these verses Paul was not saying he had absolutely no contact; there is prayer, the indwelling Spirit, and fellowship through the Word. Paul was expressing a strong yearning to be at home with his Lord. We find the Psalmist expressing the same sentiments in Psalm 23. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) There’s no place that we go when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death where God absent from us He is with us. Heaven is where God is. “Surely … I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)  So where is the house of the Lord? It’s where God dwells and that is in heaven. The hope of the psalmist was to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord.

 

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September 12 – Peace and Access With Sure Hope

Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ;  by whom we have also access by faith into this favour in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God.– Romans 5:1-2 (DARBY)  Since we have considered these two verses over the past two days, today we look again in a different version of the Bible.

In the fifth chapter of Romans, we’ve already considered the first two verses mining for the promises God has given to us. For all who by faith believe that God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to live on earth in human flesh, God’s purpose was accomplished when after living a perfect life, without sin, Jesus was sacrificed on the cross while carrying the sins of the world. He paid in full the wages of sin (Romans 6:23). Everyone who believes in Him and repents, receives eternal life. So far we have noted two links which secures our eternal future. The Apostle Paul specifies two links securing our salvation; we have peace with God (v.1); we have access to be standing in grace (v.2). Also in verse 2 we find that we have a sure hope of glory. The third link, (v. 2) promises us access and hope, and standing in grace we make our boast in this hope of the glory of God. Our hope will positively not disappoint. It is amazing to recognize that this hope is ours. Proclaiming this hope we will never be ashamed for it is solid true.

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September 10 – It’s An Objective Peace

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” -  Romans 5:1 (NASB)

Today’s verse, reveals an awesome promise for all who have by faith believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It’s awesome because it gives us assurance of forgiveness. That’s important because it's the foundation to our security in Christ Jesus.  "Therefore having been justified by faith."  That’s the premise: If we have been justified by faith, if we have been declared righteous through faith, in other words, if we have been genuinely saved, then we have laid the necessary foundation and we are held in that relationship eternally. Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God.  Now that is a very important thing for us to understand.  We have as a present possession peace with God. This is not talking about psychological tranquility.  It is not feelings of confidence or well-being.  It is not subjective at all.  It is not the kind of peace we feel or the kind of peace we experience.  It is talking about an actual relationship that can be defined as a relationship of peace. Before justification we had been at war, we had been the enemy of God, we are now at peace.

 

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July 20 – Fully Convinced

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”  Romans 4:20-21 (ESV)

In the fourth chapter of Romans, we learn about righteousness and how we receive it by faith believing.  The example is Abraham who was promised a son and a nation of descendants.  Even when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah his wife was 90 well past child bearing age, Abraham believed in this promise of a son.  This is our example for today, that we continue trusting and not wander into unbelief when a promise of God seems overdue for fulfillment.  It is not.  God answers and fulfills the promises in His time.  Abraham did not understand how God would keep His promise and give them a son but He always believed that God could and would keep all His promises.  That was saving faith and God declared Abraham righteous.  In this blog we consider many promises and today our promise is that God is a promise keeper.  We too need to believe that God is always able to do what He has promised, even when circumstances, such as Abraham and Sarah's condition make it seem impossible.  Be thankful to God each day and affirm that God will fulfill His promises – be fully convinced that He will.

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July 2 – Given, Accepted, Never Earned

“…in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. not having a righteousness of my own, legal righteousness but that (which is) through faith in Christ. the righteousness (which is) from God (and rests) on faith” – Philippians 3:9* 

There is a purpose for us to also toss all our self-effort to please God on the refuse heap. This is a warning from the Apostle Paul for any who would think and expect that their own good deeds were in any way a righteousness that counts before God. Such “good works” will never be regarded as true righteousness. We’re to never expect God to accept us into His Kingdom based on how good we have been in life.  Those that do will be disappointed. Some receiving this letter by Paul may have been offended by this. Paul says accomplishments which conformed to the Old Testament Law of Moses and the myriad of additional interpretations and traditions built up by the Jewish religious authorities since Moses. Yet it applies to any self-effort to please God and any effort by us to be righteous by following any set of laws. The only righteousness which is through faith in Christ has any value.  By faith our hand extended to receive God’s free gift. Only righteousness that is imputed to the us sinners as God’s free gift is how we obtain this righteousness. Not earned, for a gift is never earned. 

*(Translation from: William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of Philippians, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 5:164.)

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June 18 – Surviving the Rampage

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” – Romans 12:3 (NASB)

We find very little humility practiced in this world. Consider a current trend referred most often as “cancel culture,” (the term first appeared in 2016). Practiced by many who hold their views and attitudes to be the only correct and appropriate opinions while ignoring scientific orders and challenges our creator God’s clear truths found in scripture. There’s a current rampage against beliefs by those who don’t live according to these esteemed values or interpretations of right and wrong. In spite of  fear of ostracism from others, this practice of intolerance is not becoming of those for whom Christ, by grace, has chosen, saved, and adopted as children of God. Today’s passage warns us to not practice holding ourselves above others as anyone’s “betters” – better based on the values they hold and demand others to accept and hold. Today’s promise is for each true faith believer who has received an allotment measure of faith from God sufficient to use sound judgement based our faith in God’s word.  It’s this exercise which leads believers to recognize that in themselves we are nothing (1Peter 5:5), and will yield in us the fruit of humility without compromise.

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May 28 – Never Disappoint

“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Psalm 33:22 (ESV)

The last verse in Psalm 33 is a short prayer. This is really a prayer of faith. When we think of God's love as enduring and never failing, that is faith. We believe that God loves us and always will. The “steadfast love” can also be rendered as “unfailing love” and we can believe that God loves us and always will. Our verse also mentions our hope and of course that is not wishful thinking, it is expectation. When we expect God to show us His love that is also faith. So, in faith, let's expect God to demonstrate his steadfast love to us. And, let's expect it to be not a once in a while experience but a lasting all time experience.  That's what it means to have God's love resting upon us all the time. God's love is with us all the time, that is a promise God has given to us and we can trust in it with a hope that will not disappoint us – not ever.  

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April 12 – Holy Tuesday - Faith Believing

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours..”  Mark 11:22-24 (ESV)

This is Passion Week leading to Easter Sunday. We are considering events that happened in the life of our Lord just before He was arrested, tried illegally, and sentenced by Pilate to die on a cross. It was for us that He allowed all the events to happen. Many events of those few days and much of what Jesus taught that week are recorded in Scripture. Let’s look at one found in the Gospel of Mark. It was Monday morning that Jesus looked for fruit on a fig tree as he left Bethany to go into the City of Jerusalem. There was no fruit so Jesus said there would never again be any fruit on that tree. The next day, Tuesday, as they were passing that way again Peter noticed that the fig tree was all withered from the ground up and amazed he mentioned it. Jesus' reply teaches the disciples about the power of real faith without doubt. Jesus was anxious to have followers who truly believed in God and who expect God to answer their prayers. Let's keep his promise and with faith believing pray according to His will expecting God to give us what we ask for.  

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April 6 – Doubting Is Dangerous

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  James 1:6-8 (NASB)

We all wrestle with doubts. Sometimes, they are proper but some doubts are dangerous. We read yesterday (April 5) that God has wisdom for us and is ready to give it to us without reproach. We are commanded to ask for the wisdom that shows us the way of living for God’s glory. Then, James puts out a serious warning against doubting. Why does he do this? Because when we pray for wisdom our prayers must be offered with confident trust in a sovereign God. Without any doubting. It’s more than merely because of mental indecision but it is rooted in inner moral conflict or distrust in God. If we are one who doubts God’s ability to keep his promise or willingness to provide this wisdom is likened to the stormy, restless sea, buffeted by the waves from the wind and moving back and forth. It is impossible to make progress when our expectations are so far removed from what God has promised. Such action is that of a double-minded person. The literal translation of this Greek expression means having our minds divided between God and the world. Let’s ask in faith and avoid the doubts of the unstable unbeliever. 

February 13 – Do This…Don’t Do That

“The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” – Romans 14:22-23 (ESV )

 

God knows our level of faith and He honors our sincere effort to live by it. Some have grown in faith to recognize that God loves and accepts us based solely on our faith not works. Others are still learning but remain committed by their conscience to observe rules of right and wrong. “Do this…don’t do that” becomes means of working to maintain God’s approval. However it is the believers with strongest faith who have an obligation to respect those who are burdened by these rules. The strongest Christian can bring harm to himself in the area of Christian liberty by denouncing or belittling the freedom God has given him and use it as a license to sin, or by carelessly flaunting his liberty without regard for how that might affect others. The Apostle Paul urges the strong believer to understand his liberty, enjoy it, and keep it between God and himself. The strong believer maintains a healthy conscience because he does not give a weak believer a cause to stumble or lead them to violate their conscience. When a believer violates his conscience, he sins. Acting contrary to our conscience is to act without faith.

 

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January 31 – Building With Faith

“ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 20-21 (ESV)

The letter by Jude is short with only 25 verses. It’s not one of the most read books in the New Testament yet it’s message is necessary for building our faith. Jude, a half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote this letter to believers urging them to contend for the faith and to guard against and condemn the apostates. He called for discernment on the part of the church and for a rigorous defense of biblical truth.  The basis for our Christian life is our faith which is a gift from God. We became members of God's family by His grace when we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is God's desire that our faith grow stronger as it should be constantly increasing. This happens as we trust God in more and more areas of our lives. This growth in faith is the point of these verses. It is our responsibility to build ourselves up in our most holy faith. As we pay attention to what God teaches us about Himself through the Holy Spirit from what we hear taught in the Bible taught by preaching and study, we will be building ourselves up in our faith. 

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November 4 – Properly Outfitted

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” - Ephesians 6:16–17 (ESV)

Depending on your counting, the Apostle Paul lists six or seven means of preparation faith believers need to have ready. We wear these pieces for defensive and offensive action. Here two are defensive and one offensive armor pieces. These three are taken up when we are susceptible to an outbreak of lies? The Holy Spirit, through Paul gave us these instructions because He knew what we need in the battle. Everyday is a battle if we are walking obediently in the Spirit doing what Christ calls us to do. We are instructed to use our faith as a shield against the lies of Satan. They come at us from every angle and even from sources we may have trusted. Putting our faith in God’s promises is how we use our shied and stop those lies from getting to us. Our enemy tries to feed doubts into our thoughts and cause us to question our own salvation. The saved elect wear the helmet of salvation as a protection against such psychological attacks. And our knowledge of God’s word and putting it to practice is sharper than a double edge sword. Let’s stand firm therefore prepared for action defensively and offensively.  

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September 28 – Easy Weight

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” – 1 John 5:3-4 (ESV)

Just yesterday we read the promise of Jesus that His yoke is easy and his burden is light. He offers to teach us how this is true. Today’s passage is from John the Apostle who continues the same promise. If we love God as He calls us to, we show that love by keeping the commandments He gives us.  Not many of us bow gracefully on our own under the commandments or restrictions that are laid upon us. We do not like the idea of being told by someone what we are to do. It can be difficult to buckle under to the mandates and the laws made by men. But not so with God’s commandments. It is our love of God that relieves us of any weight from keeping His commandments. Today’s promise is that God’s commandments are NOT burdensome. Why is this true? Because having been born of God we overcome the difficulties of obedience to God. What seems insurmountable we now overcome and we have our victory in this struggle. What is that victory? It is our faith in God. By faith we believe and this victory becomes ours. It’s how we love God and each other.

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August 08 – The Good of Doing Good Works

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10 (NASB)

We stress frequently that we cannot earn salvation and eternal life by doing good works. It is the gift of faith that brings us the grace we need to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But good works are not to be forgotten. Doing good is a commandment in the Bible. We are promised that the good works we do in obedience to God will result in a harvest of righteousness. What we reap is lives that are saved from the wages of sin – death. (Romans 6:23) Humans can be a bit impatient however. When we do not see the positive results of our work for God, we are tempted to give up. We might even call it ‘burned out’ and we are also tempted to lose heart. Our calling as faith believers is to stay on task and trust that in due time, we will see results. Our good works are for all people, demonstrating the love and sacrifice Christ made for all the world. And even more, for all in the faith who are called children of God. When is the time to do good? It is “while we have opportunity” means NOW. 

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August 02 – The Seekers’ Rewarder

 
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:4 (NASB)

Let’s look at the Hall of Faith chapter found in Letter to Hebrews, 11. Every person (except Cain) who is mentioned in this chapter have a testimony as faith believers. Faith is essential for salvation. Faith is vital and indispensable. If we desire to know God. Even to be able to approach God in prayer, we must have the faith which Enoch had. He was the first person who was “taken up” to be with God was Enoch. By faith Enoch walked with God and pleased God. Without such faith it is not possible for anyone to “walk with God” or “please Him.” Our promise is that knowing God is for those who by faith believe that He is; the emphasis here is on “He,” the only true God. Genuine, a gift from God, does not simply believe that a divine being exists, but that the God of Scripture is the only real and true God who exists. Many people believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and some call Him “the man upstairs” without ever by faith believe that He is the one and only God. Our promise is that He is a rewarder of God seekers.

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July 29 – Assurance + Conviction = Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

We consider some of the narratives found in our Scriptures. Those narratives have prophecies, revelations and promises from God’s Word. The key to receiving these promises and the blessings they bring is ‘faith.’  We all have a kind of faith and exercise it every day. We have faith in a light switch, but not when our supply of electricity has been cut off. However, a promise from God in which we have hope and are convinced it will be is because of our faith. When we learn of a promise from God it is by faith that we have assurance of its fulfillment and that is where our hope is. By faith believing in what God has promised, we have assurance and conviction even of things we cannot see. Hope in God’s promises and convictions that what is promised is true even if we cannot see it, feel it, or touch it, is because we have faith. Heaven, is a promise. Jesus Christ coming back one day is a promise and we have hope and conviction in its truth. What promise of God will be good to have faith in today? Let’s do so and we will not be ashamed.

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July 18 – Superabundant Growth

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)

Do we not a have spiritual obligation to thank God in prayer when He accomplishes great things in the lives of faith believers? The apostle Paul believed so and especially in the case with the obedient believers in Thessalonica. This is written in the second letter Paul wrote to them and they had demonstrated growth in faith since the first letter. Their faith had continued “to grow exceedingly” that is what the original Greek word (hyperauxanei), which is used only here, tells us. Their faith had grown wonderfully, it had flourished. Our faith as Christians should continue growing throughout our lives. Such growth leads to greater trust and deeper knowledge as we grow in our knowledge of God’s will.  Let us trust God more consistently and more extensively as we grow older in Christ. If we look at the next verse (2 Thessalonians 1:4) we learn that this growth of spiritual faith experienced in the church of Thessalonica  was taking place in a time of persecutions and affliction – an expected occurrence faith helps us to endure. As our faith grows abundantly, so does our perseverance and that’s our promise.

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July 14 – Belief by Faith

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” – John 1:12 (ESV)

“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” – James 2:19 (ESV)

We use the words “faith believers” to identify any who truly believe in God by grace through faith. We do so to help others understand that “to believe” in Jesus Christ is more than believing He lived on this earth. Also, believing in God’s existence makes us no different than demons who believe God exists. Many believe in a god that is not the One God and some believe who are still under the influence of Satan and reject His offer of salvation and forgiveness. Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that our saving belief comes by grace through faith and both are a gift of God. Faith believers have been given the grace and faith to believe in God and to receive wholeheartedly His promise of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ – they are forgiven and possess eternal life. Not by our effort to be good enough are we accepted by God – our faith by grace is not of works. If we have believed in faith, the truth of salvation which has saved us from the penalty of our sin. By that gift of grace through faith we become a child of Almighty God – we are faith believers. 

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June 20 – Guarding You In All Your Ways

“Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” - Psalm 91:9-11 (ESV)

Ever heard often about promises of guardian angels? We believe that they are watching over us although we can't see them. Sometimes we sense God’s Spirit and presence and believe this is because of His angels watching over us. As we read this promise today, we are reminded who it is that gets this special protection. Notice that it is those who believe in the LORD, Most High. Our spelling and grammar checkers want to change the “Most High” to “Highest” but that is not really the same thing, is it?  It is in the LORD Most High that we find our dwelling place and profess Him as our refuge. How do we dwell in the Most High? We do so by faith believing the promises God has given to us. So let's remember that we live, or dwell in our LORD when we trust Him at all times – not just once in a while. We learn to trust and obey not only when things are tough but even when they are not so tough. Living in God is a constant that comes through a constant faith. 

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